143
Thrix stretched from her bed to pick up her mobile phone, which was bleeping. Someone had sent her a message.
Dearest Thrix I have learned how to send a text message is it not good??? Will be with you soon. Malveria.
Thrix hurried to send a reply, warning the Fire Queen that now was not a good time to visit. She got no further than the second word before Malveria appeared in her bedroom.
“Damn it Malveria, can’t you warn me when you’re coming?”
“I sent a message. Did you not admire the way I have triumphantly mastered this complicated technology? I learned from Agrivex, who, I believed, learned from Moonglow. It is very dark in here.”
Malveria waved her hand and the room lit up.
“Hello Gawain,” said Malveria, smiling broadly. “How nice to see you again.”
Gawain, next to Thrix in bed, looked pained.
“Don’t you believe in privacy?” demanded Thrix.
Malveria looked puzzled.
“This is not a word I am familiar with. Please explain?”
“I should be going,” muttered Gawain.
“I urge you not to not leave on my account,” said Malveria graciously. “The Enchantress almost certainly has sufficient energy for more lovemaking. She has had so little opportunity recently.”
“Will you get out of my bedroom!” demanded Thrix, frustrated at Malveria’s appalling lack of tact, and embarrassed to be caught in bed with Gawain.
“I really should go,” said Gawain, pointedly, looking at Malveria.
“And?” said Malveria.
“He wants you to leave the room while he dresses,” said Thrix, crossly.
“Ah… I forgot that werewolves these days have adopted the nakedness taboos of humans. Very well, I shall retire to the kitchen and make coffee on your machine, if it will co-operate. Since Agrivex has been plaguing the human lands, I have learned more about the machines of humans. I really feel I may be able to utilise the coffee device.”
Malveria strode out the bedroom.
“Does she always interrupt like this?” wondered Gawain.
“Probably,” replied Thrix. “I haven’t actually had a lover since I’ve known her…”
She broke off. That hadn’t been quite what she’d meant to say. Thrix felt annoyed and embarrassed as Gawain rose and dressed swiftly. He slipped out of the bedroom with only the briefest of good-byes and disappeared from Thrix’s apartment without saying anything to Malveria. When the Fire Queen arrived back in the bedroom, triumphantly carrying a tray of coffee, she found the Enchantress, now wrapped in a white silk robe, glaring at her furiously.
“Coffee?”
“Malveria!”
“Yes?”
“How dare you burst in here like that!”
Malveria looked hurt.
“But I sent you a message. Did you not receive it?”
“I got it about three seconds before you appeared.”
Malveria waved this away.
“Well, time in this dimension does run rather differently, I understand.”
Thrix angrily took her coffee.
“How would you like it if I burst in on you when you were in bed with someone?”
Malveria shrugged.
“I would not mind at all. Is it very taboo among the MacRinnalchs?”
“Yes. And worse, it’s extremely rude. And even more worse, what am I doing sleeping with Gawain again?”
“Ah,” Malveria nodded. “This is still an embarrassing secret?”
“Yes. Don’t mention it to anyone.”
Malveria promised not to, though that didn’t prevent her from closely questioning Thrix on every aspect of the encounter.
“How did it come about? Did he call you?”
“No.”
“Did you meet by accident in some romantic spot for instance the Beautiful Frosted Fairy Glade or the jewellery counter at Tiffany?”
“No.”
“Then how?”
“He rang the bell,” said Thrix. “And I let him in, which was a mistake.”
Thrix shook her head and sat down heavily on the side of the bed.
“I don’t know what I’m doing. Why am I sleeping with him?”
“Does it matter why?” enquired Malveria. “He is rather attractive. A little sallow perhaps, but it gives him a poetic look. Does he write poetry?”
“No. Well, maybe a little. But I haven’t read any of it.”
“Probably that is just as well,” said Malveria. “It may be all about Kalix. Unless he has now transferred his affections entirely to you.”
“I doubt it. He’s still mad about Kalix.”
“Ah,” The Fire Queen nodded sagely. “In that case I understand your attraction. There is surely nothing more desirable than a man - or werewolf - or elemental - who is more attracted to another than to you. Why this is remains a mystery but I have experienced it, most certainly. The Elvish bard Gwonthin had at one time an attachment to my lady-in-waiting Rendolin. I tried everything in my power to seduce him but he was only interested in Rendolin. It quite drove me into a frenzy of desire, I assure you.”
“And how did that romance end?”
“Badly,” admitted the Fire Queen. “But if an Elvish bard wishes to avoid being thrown into the volcano, he should not persist in visiting my palace and refusing to respond to my advances. It was simply asking for trouble.”
Thrix sipped her coffee. She hadn’t had much sleep and she was tired.
“You still haven’t told me what you’re doing here.”
“I am here by arrangement. Have you forgotten?”
Thrix looked blank.
“What arrangement?”
“We are to visit your office, pick up finished designs and take them to Moonglow’s house where they will be hidden by Kalix’s pendant.”
The Fire Queen’s voice took on a more serious tone.
“You did not remember this?”
Malveria wasn’t pleased. It was good for the Enchantress to be having a little romance, but not at the expense of Malveria’s clothes.
“There is not much time till the Sorceress Livia’s celebration.”
“I know. Sorry, I’m getting behind with things.”
Malveria couldn’t conceal her displeasure. She didn’t want to criticise her friend, but really, one had to have one’s priorities. While Thrix dressed, Malveria asked her more questions about Gawain, which Thrix tried to deflect. Trying to change the subject she asked the Fire Queen what had become of Vex after her recent misdemeanours.
“Did you punish her?”
“Alas no,” replied Malveria. “She tricked me. Before I could inflict the substantial chastisement she deserved for refusing to attend her lessons, she approached me with a copy of Italian Vogue and I became so interested in the magazine I forgot about her wide-ranging crimes.”
Malveria shook her head sadly.
“You simply would not believe the outfit she wore this morning. As well as the great black boots she had the gold corset I wore last year to the Igan Frost Queen’s Ball - as delicate and expensive a garment as any in my last year’s wardrobe - and a pair of - a pair of - ” the Fire Queen groped for the word. “I really do not know what they were. Like some sort of undergarment, but to the ankles.”
“Long Johns?” suggested Thrix.
Malveria shuddered at the very sound.
“That is right. And the hideous slime green nail varnish. I was obliged to send her away before I became nauseous. I despair of her.”
The Enchantress laughed.
“She’s young. Wait till she’s stealing this year’s outfits, then you’ll really regret it.”